Expanded polystyrene

Styrofoam is a third of all thermal insulation materials used in the world.It is made by sintering polystyrene granules obtained via foaming of pairs of special low-boiling liquid slurry.At the same time added to the foaming components.In Russia, it is often referred to as expanded polystyrene foam.Still, between the concepts of expanded polystyrene foam and a difference is, they interchanged is not always possible.

Answering the question, what is polystyrene, it should be noted thatthis gas-filled hard material having a cellular structure.However, there are species that do not have in their composition of gases.

Species polystyrene

• bespressovy polystyrene (PSB, PSB-S, EPS);
• extruded polystyrene (Penoplex, TECHNOPLEX, Stireks);
• Pressovy polystyrene (PS-1, PS-4, as well as imported materials);
• autoclave and autoclave-extrusion (exclusively imported materials).

Scope

It bespressovy called polystyrene foam.The main direction of application of the material - thermal insulation, sound insulation.They insulated walls, floors, windows, balconies, etc.The popularity of this method of insulation is economically justified.If you need to get access to the private area, you can simply remove the fragment, and then re-install it to its original location.The low cost allows you to massively use it in other areas.Often it is used for freeze protection of sports grounds and other facilities.The specific scope depends on the brand.

Extrusion kind of need for thermal insulation and sound insulation of walls, facades, roofs, walls, foundations.This type has a higher strength than bespressovoy species.This is due to the production technology.extrusion method involves melting the raw granules and subsequently fill the resulting mass in the form.

Extrusion Styrofoam take in the manufacture of refrigerators, thermoses, car bodies.It is irreplaceable in shipbuilding.Insulating properties make it popular in the electrical industry.

From Styrofoam make packaging for products (disposable tableware, containers for fruit and meat products), technical packaging.In the photo you can see an example of the many variants of such goods.He became an indispensable material for creating decorative items.

Basic properties

Styrofoam should be taken for the arrangement of the middle layer structures only.It is well tolerated temperature jumps from -40 ° C to 80 ° C.He was not used in the insulation of saunas, steam baths, heating.However, the properties of the material does not limit its use as insulation of buildings.Even with prolonged exposure to direct rays of it starts to melt, it will not lose structure.

Material Safety do not worry.As part of the expanded polystyrene has a styrene, a substance found in many foods.Officially confirmed its safety, styrene recognized as non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic, so from this material are allowed to make packaging for food.Containers made of polystyrene foam even carry donor organs, medical preparations.Since it is not a heater in contact with the interior of the house, it is impossible to oxidation, so styrene is not released from the insulating layer.

polystyrene granules from which the active material - a product of oil refining.Therefore, it is a combustible material.It belongs to the group G3 ( "normalnogoryuchy").Often plates add special flame retardants, whose action is based on the reduction of the ability to spread fire.So what are some modern varieties of material can not burn on their own for more than 2 seconds.

Specifications polystyrene

Among the technical characteristics of the material is of special importance its low thermal conductivity - 0.032 - 0.050 W / m * C, these figures are significantly lower than those of brick or concrete.

second important feature - it's a good moisture resistance.To absorbency was 3%, it takes about a day of water contact with the material.Vapor permeability is also very low - 0.06 mg / m * h * Pa.At even lower extrusion species - 0.013 mg / (h * m * Pa).

Advantages of Styrofoam include its inability to become an acceptable medium for biological media.He was not afraid of mold and mildew.

User reviews indicate that this material has its drawbacks.This is primarily mechanical and chemical instability.The output of the acquisition situation may be plates with a density of at least 16.2 kg / m3.

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